FHR-B-300 (11-78)

United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries complete applicable sections______1. Name historic Estate Little Princess and/or common Estate Little Princessa 2. Location street & number Northwest of Christiansted not for publication city, town Christiansted vicinity of congressional district state Virgin Islands code 73 county st. Croix code 0200 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use district public X occupied agriculture museum X (s) X private unoccupied commercial park structure both work in progress educational _X private residence X site Public Acquisition Accessible entertainment religious object in process X yes: restricted government scientific being considered yes: unrestricted industrial transportation no military other: 4. Owner of Property

street & number 1800 N. Kent Street city, town Arlington vicinity of state Virginia 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Recorder of Deeds street & number Government city, town Christiansted, St. Croix state U. S. Virgin Islands 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Virgin Islands Inventory of title Historic Places has this property been determined elegible? yes no date federal X state county local depository for survey records Virgin Islands Planning Office city,town Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, state u. s. Virgin Islands 7. Description

Condition Check one Check one _ X. excellent deteriorated unaltered _ X. original site good X ruins X altered moved date April 1 , 1980 fair unexposed

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance Estate Little Princess is located approximately one and three-quarter miles west of the town of Christiansted, St. Croix, just within the outer limits of Christiansted Harbor. The Estate presently consists of: two great , dating approximately one hundred years apart; an overseer's house; a former steam-powered sugar factory and rum distillery; the remains of a wind-powered sugar mill and well tower; and several outbuildings, including the remains of the original slave village immediately to the west of the original manor house. The first and older of the two greathouses (photo 1) is two-stories in height and "T" shaped in plan, consisting of a rectangular central core (the top of the "T"), measuring 28 by 58 feet and projecting bay, now a , measuring about 15 by 10 feet. The single is hipped and covered with corrugated sheet metal. An impressive two-story arcaded gallery spans the south side of the building, providing access by means of a restored masonry staircase, contained within the eastern most of the six bays, to the second residence. The lower floor is presently and was no doubt originally used for storage. Bearing are of rubble masonry, with brick reinforcement at the splayed and openings. Brick also forms the voussoirs of the elliptical of the double arcade. The walls throughout are covered with lime plaster and cement except in some areas where the under-lying materials were exposed more recently for decorative effect. The structure has in fact been altered considerably over the years, most recently during renovations carried out in 1956-57 when the then abandoned property was acquired by the present residents. The roof of the gallery, originally framed, was replaced with reinforced concrete as were the gallery's originally wood ; however, since the building was open to the elements at the time, the owners felt they had little other choice. Other changes included the provision of a small guest house and one-story in the projection to the north of the original building (photo 2). A number of original sheds and out- were apparently incorporated within this addition. Changes on the interior included: The provision of a new tray , based on examples elsewhere; the provision of a small kitchen and in the two-bay northern projection; and the installation of modern screens and adjustable jalousies replacing what were no doubt the original casement louvers and storm shutters. None of these changes, however, seriously detract from the overall appearance and historic character of the building and none are fully unalterable. The second great-house (photo 3 and 4) is located approximately 25 feet to the east on the same axis as the first. Unlike the original house, which it resembles in basic outline and dimensions, this second slightly more elaborate and larger building is roughly "L" shaped in plan (with an additional Kitchen and smaller wing balancing the ) and one and one half stories high. The arcade gallery is likewise "L" shaped, running in this case along the south and east facades. The front, or south facade, was originally seven bays wide with a centered entrance served by a limestone of "coral" staircase. A later, one bay wide has since been added to the southwest corner adding in effect an eighth bay to the south facade and, therefore, to the original gallery. The gallery on the east facade is like­ wise eight bays wide, corresponding to the projecting arm of the ell. 8. Significance

Period Areas of Significance Check and justify below prehistoric X archeology-prehistoric community planning landscape religion 1400-1499 archeology-historic conservation law science 1500-1599 X agriculture economics literature sculpture 1600-1699 X architecture __ education military social/ X 1700-1799 art engineering music humanitarian JX_ 1800-1 899, __^ _ commerce exploration/settlement philosophy theater 1900^. * > * - communications industry X politics/government transportation invention other (specify)

Specific dates Builder/Architect

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Estate Little Princess is an outstanding example of a sugar plantation and factory dating from the early period of Danish Colonization in the West Indies. Together with Butler Bay to the west similar in terms of its archi­ tecture and other details it is also one of the best preserved, its later alterations merely serving to extend the property's life and not to fully alter its original appearance. Deed records suggest that Little Princess was first established in 1749 ? or 16 years after the purchase of St. Croix by the Danish Crownt by two young planters, Frederik Moth and Peter Heyliger, both later to became prominent in the political life of the island, Moth eventually serving as governor. Little Princess was perhaps typical of plantations of its kind, designed to help supplement other commercial ventures on the island or within the Danish Colonies. The original complex includes a , windmill (builtas early as 1749) well and probably the slave village. Moth, born in Copenhagen in 1694 and moving to St. Thomas in 1722 as a merchant in Danish West India Company, apparently moved into the complex soon afterwards. Accompanying him were probably his wife, the daughter of Lucas van Beverhout, a prominent St. Thomas planter, and their children. His youngest daughter, Alette Moth, eventually inheritedthe estate following her marriage to Peter Heylinger Junior. For a short time before this, however, Moth's ownership came into question when the crown took over title of the property from the company in 1754. Improved by Moth with company funds for many years, it is obvious that there was considerable resentment over this- although in the end Moth appears to have gained control once again. The name, Little Princess, appeared for the first time in 1802; it was also known as Little Princessa. In 1834, Robert Innes Grant, who had purchased it several years before, sold 18 1/2 acres of the estate to Governor Peter von Scholten, who undertook the second phase of improvements. From 1879 to 1915, the Estate was owned by Emil Switzer who entertained a number of internationally known scientists there. As a plantation and factory Little Princess followed the standard pattern of success and decline. By 1900, while the Estate was still turning out "muscovado" and making an occasional profit, there was little hope of its survival as a major producer. During the 1950 fs , the buildings long in ruins the roof of the original great house was destroyed in the famous 1928 hurri­ cane which devastated the island and all its land turned over to grazing, the property was acquired by Clayton and Opal Shoemaker for a vacation . In 1970 the property, including an additional 5 acre lot to the north was donated to the Nature Conservancy to insure the continued preservation of the site. 9. Major Bibliographical References Dookhan, Isaac. A History of the Virgin Islands of the United States Epping, Essex: Bowker Publishing Company, 1974.———————————— Lewisoln, Florence. St. Croix UriderLSeven Flags. Hollywood, Florida ____The Dukane Press.T97Q. ———______10. Geographical Data UTM NOT VERIFIED______

Acreage of nominated properly 19.598______ACREAGE NOT VERIFIED Quadrangle name 17-i rjQU 45'A r- , 34"o/i tt NorthAT 0.1- LatitudeT J. j. Puadrangle scale UMT References 64° 43' 33" West Longitude i i B , , 1 I Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing Cl I I 11,1 D_ LL 1 1 El l I I I l I I I I |_L M i I LL i I O , I ||,l HI.i I LL J l i I i I 1 1

Verbal boundary description and justification The nominated property is located at #52 Estate Little Princess.

List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code NM county code N/A state N/a code N/a county N/a code N/A 11. Form Prepared By (Architectural Historian) name/title Mr. Russell Wright, Mr. Philip Lader, Mr. William Chapman organization Virgin Islands Planning Qffir.p date Trine 6, 1977 / April 12,1980 street & number p m Q m Box 2606 telephone (SQQ) 774-1730 city or town Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas______state tL S. Virgin Islands 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification

The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: __ national X state X |Ocal As the designated State Historic Preservation Off icer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation anctRecreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature title Director of Planni

GPO 938 835 FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

(CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2 of 4 ___

A second "welcoming arms" staircase, similar to that on the south, approaches from the east. The coral stone and rubber walls throughout are covered with lime plaster patched with cement. Square-headed window and door openings are again flat arched and splayed, the openings and arches being defined by bricks. The roof, sheathed in corrugated sheet metal,follows the conventional pattern: hipped for the main house; sheds for the gallery and southwest extension. As with the first great house, the interior of the second has been substantially altered and now consists of a single large room running on the eastwest axis with a projecting at the western corner. A single tray ceiling of later composition board spans the area. , three in number, are located in the ell, the kitchen, as explained, projects from the northwest corner. The latter, which retains its original charcoal stove and pyramidal range hood, has been con­ scientiously adapted for modern use (photo 5). A third residential building, originally the overseer's house, is located approximately 100 feet to the south east (photo 6). This one- story double residence of roughed coursed coral follows a standard regional model, including the traditional hipped roof of corrugated sheet metal. The total dimensions are 16 by 21 and 2/3 feet. The walls rise 10 and 2/3 feet from the ground level. The paired of the south facade are matched by a double set of on the north. Windows and doors have in turn been altered through the addition of modern louvers. Otherwise, the building remains substantially unchanged. North and west of the overseer's house is the windmill (photos 6 and 7), of the first sugar factory. Typical of windmills in the West Indies, it is conical in shape and is completed by a flat platform to receive the windshaft housing. Built of coral block and originally covered with lime plaster of which traces remain, the structure's clean­ ing openings and entrance were blocked when the crushing mill was converted to a cistern some time after the introduction of a steam- power—and a second factory—after 1850. The well-tower with its own windmill to power the winch, is located southeast of the canemill and factory. Approximately 40 feet high, the tapered circular structure, now overgrown with vegetation and barely accessible, is 11 feet in diameter at its base. Rubble walls are as much as 30 inches thick. The round-headed entrance and two window openings are, as with other buildings in the complex, lined with brick. There is also a corbelled brick platform near the top of the tower for the guidepole used in turning the sails into the wind. The winch platform also remains. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE ""•§•"""

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES mil INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

CONTIIMUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE 3 Of 4 The ruins of the second sugar factory and rum distillery are located approximately 160 feet southeast of the second great house (photos 8, 9, and 10). Part of the factory has been converted into a garden and , but this has been done sympathetically and does not completely interrupt the original appearance of the structure, Also, most of the original fabric remains intact. In plan, the factory consists of two long parallel sections running on the north-south axis with a third element, a wagon loading platform, appended to the southend of the east and a fourth conjoining element,—a cooperage and large cistern—added to the southend of the west wall. The eastern section of the factory, measuring 29 feet 7 inches by 85 feet 9 inches, features a ten-bay-long arcade on the west balanced by six segmentially arched windows on the east. The south wall is punctured by two windows; the corresponding north wall has only a single wide entrance. The ten arched openings ofthe west wall are built of dressed coral block; all other opening are defined by brick. This part of the factory also includes the remains of a timber-framed roof as well as the remains of a portion of the original brick floor. This first section was originally used as the actual processing room of the sugar factory and would have included a number of iron pans or coppers no longer in evidence. The southend, now the swimming pool, was the shipping and packing area. Ruins of the original wagon loading platform, retained above, are appended to the southeast corner. The other wing of the factory was, as suggested, originally the site of the distillery and cooperage. Although slightly narrower—13 and 1/2 feet compared to about 20—this section conforms in basic outline to the other, again possessing a gable roof and internally arched window openings Rather than an arcade, however, there are only three large windows on the west and two small square-headed windows on the south walls. All windows include slots for the original wood security bars, now deteriorated and lost. This second section encompasses the original distillery or "still house", the boiling room and the coal-storage area. The still room is located at the southend with its floor set a full level below grade. Part of the still remains, elevated on a low brick platform with the furnace below. The boiler room is set behind the massive (photo 8) at the northend. The chimney itself is typical in design. As with the rest of the factory, it is constructed of rough, course rubble with certain elements—in this case the cornice band and cap-­ constructed of brick. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAG E 4 Of 4 A final two-story wing, measuring 45 by 23 feet, is appended, as explained, to the southwest corner of the distillery area. This was originally the cooperage and there is evidence of a pipe line connecting it to the pot still of the distillery. Immediately adjacent is an 18 by 22 feet vaulted cistern. The ruins of an extensive slave village (photos 11 and 12) are located approximately 150 feet to the west of the original great house. Only one of what are estimated as originally thirty houses is standing, having been altered through an addition on the north and the provision of new windows and fixtures for use as a servant's residence during the 1950's. The rest consist of low rubble walls, some barely visible. The whole area is over-grown and now accessible only with diffuculty. As with so many other plantations of the period, Little Princess, possesses a certain amount of potential as an archaeological site. The owner has discovered a number of examples of 19C delft and other ceremic were, as well as a number of American Indian antifacts, including flint tools,, scattered about the surface. The area is included in the VI Inventory of archaeological sites, as well, although the boundaries of the potential archaeological site are as yet undefined by tests. These are contemplated in the future. As an historical site, the boundaries of the property are relatively well-defined, based on the existing boundaries of the lot containing the whole complex. Totalling nearly 20 acres, this lot is considered suf­ ficient to protect the integrity of all visible remains as well as any potential resources within the immediate area. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2 Of 2 Architecturally, the Estate is more important for its typically than for its exceptional features. The double arcade of the older great house is a typical element and in fact occurs a number of other plantation great houses of the area, most notably Butler Bay to the west. The second greathouse of 1850 is likewise typical; nor was it entirely unusual for a second house to have been constructed once tastes and needs changed during the mid-Nineteenth Century. The essentially "T" shaped sugar factory, also built around 1850, while more elaborate than most, conformed as well as to the general pattern, as did the earlier conical windmill. Overall Little Princess is an exceptionally well preserved site, its donation to the Nature Conservancy helping to further insure this. The full potential of the site in terms of both prehistoric and historic remains has yet to be fully established. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE

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CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 9 PAGE 2 of 2

Zabriske, L. K. The Virgin Islands of the United States of America- Historical and Descriptive Commercial and Industrial Facts, Figures and Resources: New York, 1918. McGuire, James William. Geographic Dictionary of the Virgin Islands. Special Publication No. 103 (Serial No. 2^9), United StatJes Coast and Geodetic Survey, Department of Commerce. Washington, D. C. 1925 Westergaard, Waldemar Christian. The Danish West Indies Under Company Rule (1671 ) 1754), With a Supplementary Chapter, New York, T917." Interview with Mr. Clayton Shoemaker by Mr. William Chapman, February 15, 1980. Interview with Mrs. Opal Shoemaker by Annie Hillary, November 22, 1976 N; 15 LITTLE PRINCESS , CSTE&'. ST. CROIX m^-$80-